Smart home technology, also called home automation or connected home, is the fasted growing area of technology today, but it's taken the longest to get noticed. Home automation and smart home products have been around for more than 20 years, yet for most people, the trend first started being noticeable only in the last couple of years. There are a few reasons for this, but primarily it's due to the rise in inexpensive do-it-yourself (DIY) systems which have made smart home lifestyles more affordable and easier to get than ever before. A smart home, essentially, is a home in which all (or some) of the home's electrical subsystems (lighting, heating/air conditioning, security/monitoring, entertainment and more) or devices are all more accessible and integrated so that they work together. Smart homes systems are usually connected to the Internet via your home network, which means that you can view your system status and make adjustments (like changing the temperature or unlocking the door) even when you're a thousand Smart home systems don't need to be confusing or intimidating. You don't have to be an expert to set up and use one, but you should understand the basics of how the technology works. This book will explain the main types of smart home systems, the wireless protocols that connect them and the devices that you'll need or want. It also explains the importance of home automation scenes, and offers many examples of uses or projects you may want to try in your home. Whether you're a tech enthusiast who likes to tinker or someone who wants to set it up and then leave it alone, this book will give you the confidence that you can get the job done right.
